CIEE Environmental + Sustainability Studies in Rio

Location

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro

Program Summary

Program OverviewJust imagine studying sustainability in a country home to 30 percent of the world’s rain forests. CIEE takes you there. On our Environment and Sustainability Studies program in Rio de Janeiro, you’ll dive into some of mankind’s greatest issues, studying everything from biology to urban planning in the most biodiverse country on the planet. Improve your Portuguese, see an endangered animal or two up close, and make a difference while you’re at it.

Study abroad in Rio and you will: - Live in a vibrant, culturally rich city and a global capital of environmental sustainability and sustainable development
- Enroll directly in courses at one of Brazil’s most prestigious universities
- Explore the city and country through a series of excursions and guided visits
- Take advantage of engagement opportunities at environmental organizations such as CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development), IBEA (Brazilian Institute for Engineering, Architecture, and ...

Program Summary

Program OverviewJust imagine studying sustainability in a country home to 30 percent of the world’s rain forests. CIEE takes you there. On our Environment and Sustainability Studies program in Rio de Janeiro, you’ll dive into some of mankind’s greatest issues, studying everything from biology to urban planning in the most biodiverse country on the planet. Improve your Portuguese, see an endangered animal or two up close, and make a difference while you’re at it.

Study abroad in Rio and you will: - Live in a vibrant, culturally rich city and a global capital of environmental sustainability and sustainable development
- Enroll directly in courses at one of Brazil’s most prestigious universities
- Explore the city and country through a series of excursions and guided visits
- Take advantage of engagement opportunities at environmental organizations such as CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development), IBEA (Brazilian Institute for Engineering, Architecture, and Environmental Protection), SOS Mata Atlantica, Greenpeace, and more.

Program Highlights

Coursework

Before you start the regular semester or year, you’ll participate in our monthlong Intensive Portuguese Language and Culture Program (ILCP). This unique language program – designed specifically for international students – combines with exciting cultural immersion activities to help you develop a higher level of Portuguese language fluency, and gain a critical appreciation of Brazilian life and society.
You’ll then choose your courses from a robust selection at one of the country’s top universities. Courses and subjects at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) include environmental law and ethics, conservation and sustainability, environmental risk analysis, geohistory, planning, land management, and more.

Community Engagement

During your time in Rio, we arrange individual and group community engagement activities with a variety of local NGOs, schools, organizations, and communities. These projects are designed to give you a firsthand look at the environmental and social challenges facing Rio and its surrounding areas. Working with community centers in squatter neighborhoods on the fringe of the Tijuca National Park or the edge of Guanabara Bay, you’ll share your passion for sustainability with underprivileged children. You’ll also inspire youth to recycle with Sister Fatima in the Ladeira dos Tabajaras favela, and help with neighborhood cleanup in Rio.

Excursions

You’ll explore the underbelly of the city, too, taking drum lessons in a favela. Working with the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Brazilian Institute for Engineering, Architecture, and Environmental Protection, and Greenpeace merits some tai chi chuan lessons on the beach, don’t you think? You’ll also go on tours of Rio, guided visits to the city’s numerous national museums, and tours of historical neighborhoods; attend soccer matches; participate in Carnival; and so much more. An overnight journey will take you to either Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century during an excursion to Ouro Preto, where we´ll visit an underground waterfall in one of Minas Gerais´national parks.

Fieldwork

Local field activities will give you hands-on experience. You might monitor inequality in state-provided water supply and sewage systems, or learn about the politics of squatter settlements on protected land. You might also go on expert-led daytrips to areas of biological and sustainability interest in and around Rio.

Term

Dates

Fall: early July - mid December; Spring: early January - late June; Academic Year: mid July - late June; Calendar Year: early January - mid December

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Minimum Education

Bachelors

Subject Areas

Biology

Ecology

Engineering

Environmental Studies

Geography

Health Sciences

Latin American Studies

Law

Marine Biology

Portuguese

Public Health

Sustainable Development

Urban & Regional Planning

Cost in US$:

Please check the CIEE website for current pricing.

Program Fees Include:

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.
- Tuition and housing
- Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
- Full-time program leadership and support
- Field trips and cultural activities
- CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits